Public feedback underway as Columbia weighs new building codes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is working on a major update of its building codes, proposing to adopt the 2024 International Building Codes that govern residential and commercial construction, safety, energy efficiency and plumbing standards.

The city currently operates under the 2018 codes.

On Wednesday, the city’s Community Development department hosted a public forum, in which more than 20 people attended. The forum offered attendees an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed changes. The Building Code Adoption is currently in a 90-day public comment and review period, which ends Feb. 17. 

Columbia’s Building Regulation Supervisor Aaron Decker said the department did not know what to expect heading into the meeting, but was pleased with the turnout. 

“I think it was a very enlightening meeting as a lot of our commissioners had said in the past that, as we go through the review of these codes, we don't get a lot of outside participation or we haven't in the past. And this was a new endeavor, something that we haven't tried before,” Decker said. “I thought it was a great opportunity to  get the  individuals that are dealing with this stuff daily out in the field  in here  to give their feedback and to give their input.” 

City officials say the updated codes are designed to improve building safety, fire prevention, energy efficiency and long-term resilience. The 2024 standards cover a wide range of areas, including structural design, plumbing, mechanical systems, fuel gas installation, electrical wiring, property maintenance and requirements for renovations to existing buildings. Energy conservation standards are also updated, with the goal of reducing energy use and lowering long-term utility costs for building occupants.

Several city departments — including Community Development, the Office of Neighborhood Services, the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Building and Construction Codes Commission — have spent months reviewing the changes and drafting local amendments. The process includes multiple public meetings, a formal recommendation from the commission and a minimum 90-day public comment period before the City Council considers final adoption.

Decker said the review of the codes started in November 2024, with the community development department going through 21 reviews of the codes section by section. 

“The codes are reactionary, so there are things that happen and that trigger a code revision to go into place. One of the examples I gave in the meeting, and one of the examples that I like to stand behind, is the lithium battery situation, previous renditions 2018, 2015, there's not a lot of lithium battery guidance in the fire code or in the building code,” Decker said. “However, with where things have gone with electrification and the risk associated with high-volume lithium batteries, there is an inherent risk to protect occupants of a building and or occupants of a structure that is within. And so, the building codes continue to evolve and it's important that a community continues to evolve with them so that they can stay up to speed and up to availability with the materials, the products, everything that's out there in the economy that's moving forward.” 

One of the primary concerns raised by property owners and property builders during Wednesday’s meeting revolved around the energy code. 

One concern raised: The code will require industrial and retail properties to have solar panels, which one man argued will force companies to move to neighboring communities. 

“I would agree with that statement that the energy code has been a kind of the hot topic of all the changes, and it's going to continue to be as things move forward because it does drastically impact building,” Decker said. 

Industry concerns raised 

As part of the public comment period, the Home Builders Association of Columbia submitted a detailed letter to Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll to pause the adoption of the 2024 codes until further analysis is completed.

In the letter, Executive Officer Jami Clevenger raised concerns about increased construction costs tied to updated energy efficiency standards, particularly for residential housing. The association estimates the changes could add thousands of dollars to the cost of new homes, disproportionately affecting starter homes and first-time buyers. The letter argues that projected energy savings would not offset the upfront costs for many families.

Clevinger argues the 2024 residential energy codes will increase building costs by $8,000-$12,000 while only saving $10 per month in utility savings.

Clevenger also highlighted provisions in the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code that would require on-site renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, for certain commercial buildings. The association warned those mandates could significantly increase costs for small businesses, developers and renters.

The group called for independent, university-led research to evaluate the true cost-benefit impact of the proposed codes on housing affordability, commercial development and economic growth. It also questioned how national building codes are developed, citing concerns about industry influence and the lack of localized economic analysis.

The association asked city leaders to delay implementation while conducting further study, arguing the long-term impacts on affordability and development warrant additional review.

Decker said that once their review and data collection are finished, they will send a summary to the council, but added there is no set date for when that will take place.